Chaplin: Genius of the Cinema

by Jeffrey Vance

Charlie Chaplin was the first international cinema star and one of the greatest comic geniuses the world has known. Drawing on research and interviews with those who knew Chaplin, Jeffrey Vance presents an illustrated account which captures Chaplin's fascinating life as well as his creative process. Vance describes in detail the atmosphere on Chaplin's film sets and his relationships with the cast and crew, his first attempts at comedy sequences that later became famous, and the main themes and ideas that persist through the major Chaplin films. stage of which is documented in photographs: his poverty-stricken childhood in late Victorian London, his unparalleled success in Hollywood, his numerous romances and four marriages, his political persecution during the anti-communist witch-hunts, and his happy years of quiet exile in Switzerland.

Genres: Biography, Film, Nonfiction

400 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2003

About the author

Jeffrey Vance is an American film historian, producer, archivist, and lecturer, as well as the author of the acclaimed volumes "Douglas Fairbanks" (UC Press/Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, 2008), "Chaplin: Genius of the Cinema" (Harry N. Abrams, 2003), "Harold Lloyd: Master Comedian" (Harry N. Abrams, 2002), and "Buster Keaton Remembered" (Harry N. Abrams, 2001). His most recent book is "A Star Is Born: Judy Garland and the Film That Got Away" (Running Press, 2018).

He began his career as an archivist for M-G-M/United Artists and served the same function for the Chaplin family's Roy Export S.A.S., The Harold Lloyd Trust, and the Mary Pickford Foundation. As a producer, he packaged the "Harold Lloyd Classic Comedies" for Turner Classic Movies, later released to DVD by New Line Home Entertainment. As a filmmaker, he produced and directed the short subject "Rediscovering John Gilbert" (2010) which aired on Turner Classic Movies as well as released to home video. He has served as a consultant to virtually every motion picture studio and has appeared in numerous documentaries.

He writes for various publications, contributes audio commentary tracks for Blu-ray and streaming, and speaks at venues throughout the United States and Europe including the TCM Classic Film Festival, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, British Film Institute, Museum of Modern Art, San Francisco Silent Film Festival, "Los Angeles Times" Festival of Books, and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.

Reviews

[Tina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Many biographers have tackled the complex life & career of Charlie Chaplin, himself included. I have read many of them, including his autobiography. This one stands out in great care in being thoughtful & tasteful. An honest and penetrating pondering of his films, which very much drew inspiration from, and was tightly bound with Chaplin in his personal life as well. Thankfully, there is neither gushing nor smart-ass critiquing for the sake of distasteful, sensationalist argument here. That this book is not mandatory on film schools' recommended readings list around the country is in my opinion, another attribution to the fall of our educational system.

[Vibrant · Rating 5 out of 5]

oh, okI think I get charlie chaplin now...